You Think Cooking Indian Food is Difficult? Try These Easy Recipes

Indian cuisine is as wide and diverse as its culture. Here are some easy recipes that will give you a glimpse of the true flavor of this country.

Tastessence Staff

Last Updated: Mar 5, 2018

Indian cuisine has a typical flavor because of the spices and herbs used that lend it a unique taste. The staple diet of any citizen of this country consists of a variety of pulses, rice, rotis, pickles, vegetable, etc. The cuisine also varies as per the region. Here, the flavors and the main ingredients change depending upon the particular region you are visiting. South Indian food is known for its scrumptious dosas and idlis whereas the North is known for the typical gravies, tandoori chicken, and kulchas. Cuisine in western India consists of rice, fish, and the use of coconut being of prime importance for Goa whereas, the Maharashtrian dishes have an assortment from the sweet puran poli to the mild flavored nutritious breakfast items. The eastern part of the country is known for its mouth-watering range of sweets. Well, if you are fascinated by the cuisine of this country and wish to try preparing some dishes at home, here are some easy recipes. Use authentic spices to get the best flavor.

Butter ChickenIngredients

Cinnamon, ¼ tsp. (ground)

Garam Masala, 1½ tsp.

Salt, 1½ tsp.

Ginger, 1½ tsp. (minced)

Garlic Cloves, 2 (crushed)

Tomatoes, 5 (seeded and diced)

Plain Yogurt, ½ cup

Butter, ½ cup

Red Bell Peppers, 2 (sliced)

Onions, 2 (thinly sliced)

Nutmeg, ¼ tsp. (ground)

Cloves, ¼ tsp. (ground)

Heavy Whipping Cream, ¼ cup

Fresh Coriander, 2 tbsp. (chopped)

Dried Red Chili Pepper, 2 tsp. (crushed)

Chicken Breast, 1 lb. (skinless, boneless, and cut into 2" cubes)

PreparationFirst, mix ground chili pepper, cinnamon, garam masala, nutmeg, ginger, garlic, yogurt, tomatoes, cloves, and salt in a large bowl. Then, place the chicken pieces in this yogurt mixture. Marinate and let it rest in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Then, melt some butter in a large skillet. Cook the bell pepper slices along with the onions on medium heat. Cook till the onions turn translucent and keep stirring every 5 minutes. Then, add the chicken along with the marinade to this skillet. Cook the chicken and stir the same constantly for the next 8 minutes. Once the chicken turns firm, keep the flame on medium high. Now, add the cream and coriander. Cook the mixture till it begins to boil. Garnish it with some fresh cream and serve it hot.

Masala DosaIngredientsFor the Dosa

Rice, 1½ cups

Urad Dal, ½ cup

Salt, to taste

Oil, 2 tbsp.

For the Masala Filling

Potatoes, 2 (diced)

Turmeric, ½ tsp.

Mustard Seeds, ½ tsp.

Green Chili, 2 (chopped)

Oil, 1 tbsp.

Salt, to taste

Onion, 1 (chopped)

Yellow Split Peas, ½ tsp.

PreparationFor the dosa:Soak the rice and urad dal separately in water, overnight. Grind this mixture to make a paste. Mix it together with salt and water. This will form the batter. Let this mixture rest at room temperature, overnight. Add onion and chilies to the batter. Heat a pan with some oil or clarified butter. Spread this batter with the help of a spatula on the pan in a circular motion to make a thin pancake.

For the filling:Heat oil in a pan and add onions, spice, mustard seeds, and peas. Fry it for about 5 minutes on medium heat. Add the potatoes to this and cook it evenly. While serving, you need to place the filling inside the dosa and roll it. Serve this with a spicy coriander and coconut dip.